Glossary
The ability of a financial firm to prevent, adapt to, respond to, recover from, and learn from operational disruptions.
Recent Trends
from Financial Regulation
The Consumer Duty (effective July 2023) represents the FCA's most significant conduct reform in years, requiring firms to deliver good outcomes for retail customers across four key areas: products, price, understanding, and support. The Edinburgh Reforms and subsequent legislation aim to tailor the UK's post-Brexit regulatory framework for competitiveness, replacing retained EU law with UK-specific rules — a process often called the Smarter Regulatory Framework. Crypto regulation is being brought within the FSMA perimeter, with stablecoins and certain crypto-asset activities now requiring FCA authorisation. Operational resilience — the ability of financial firms to prevent, respond to, and recover from disruptions — has emerged as a regulatory priority following high-profile IT failures.
FCA (Financial Conduct Authority)
The UK regulator responsible for the conduct of financial services firms and the integrity of financial markets.
PRA (Prudential Regulation Authority)
The Bank of England subsidiary that supervises the financial safety and soundness of banks, building societies, insurers, and major investment firms.
FSMA (Financial Services and Markets Act 2000)
The primary legislation governing the regulation of financial services in the UK, establishing the framework within which the FCA and PRA operate.
UK MAR (Market Abuse Regulation)
The UK regulation prohibiting insider dealing, unlawful disclosure of inside information, and market manipulation in respect of financial instruments.
KYC (Know Your Customer)
The process by which regulated firms verify the identity and assess the risk profile of their clients before establishing a business relationship.
SAR (Suspicious Activity Report)
A report filed with the National Crime Agency when a firm knows or suspects that a transaction or activity involves the proceeds of crime or terrorist financing.
Consumer Duty
The FCA's overarching standard requiring firms to act to deliver good outcomes for retail customers, covering products, price, understanding, and support.